Wire pay-off reel



June 9, 1964 J. l. M MARTlN WIRE PAY-OFF REEL Filed Nov. 30. 1961INVENTOR. JAMES I; Mc MARTIN ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,136,496WIRE PAY-OFF REEL fairies I. McMartin, West Hartford, Conn, assignor toThe Penn Manufacturing Company, Newington, Conn., a corporation ofConnecticut Filed Nov. 30, 1961, Scr. No. 156,010 9 Ciaims. (Cl.242--54) The present invention relates to reels and is concerned moreparticularly with a pay-off reel adapted to be loaded with wire inbundle form as available commercially and which will pay off the wire inan improved manner to an associated mechanism such as a rolling mill orthe like.

Commercially available round wire in various diameters as taken from awire drawing block is usually supplied to the trade in the form of aloose doughnut-shaped coil referred to as a bundle. In the formingprocess, the wire is given a permanent set such that each loop orconvolution of the coil has the same diameter. During normal handling,the loops of the coil, which are not rigidly supported, do not remainconcentric but shift relative to each other in overlapping relationshipsuch that some entanglement of the loops lakes place. As a consequence,it is exceedingly difficult to feed the wire in a satisfactory manner toa rolling mill or similar apparatus at high speeds unless the wire isfirst wound on a spool. Furthermore, it is exceedingly difficult to feedsuch wire when the more economical heavier bundles are used because ofthe increased inertia of the bundle which causes excessive tension inthe wire.

A principal aim of the present invention is to provide a wire pay-offreel for receiving a bundle of wire of the type referred to in thenormal condition in which it is available commercially and without anyneed for a rewinding operation or the like, and which will pay off thewire to an associated mechanism such as a rolling mill, at high speedswith substantial elimination of snagging and without twisting, and whichwill avoid the undesirable effects of inertia or drag on the wire sothat tension on the wire may be maintained at a desired minimum or, ifdesired, may be eliminated entirely.

A further aim of the invention is to provide such a payoff reel which ismotor driven and wherein means is provided to control the speed ofoperation thereof in accordance with the speed of operation of theassociated mechanism to which the wire is being fed. Included in thisaim is the provision of control means which can be adjusted duringstart-up of the machine to overcome starting inertia and provide therequired acceleration to prevent excessive tensioning of the wire whilenormal operating speed is being attained.

Another aim of the invention is to provide a pay-off reel of the typereferred to which is of simple and economical construction and yetrugged and versatile in operation so that it may be used with a minimumof skill and instruction and will be substantially fool-proof and freeof malfunctions during normal conditions of operation.

Other objects will be in part obvious and in part pointed out more indetail hereinafter.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction,combination of elements and arrangement of parts which will beexemplified in the construction hereafter set forth and the scope of theapplication which will be indicated in the appended claims.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is an end elevational view partly broken away and partly insection of a pay-off reel constructed in accordance withthe inventionand loaded with a bundle of round wire; and

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view thereof together with a 3,135,435Patented June 9, 1964 "ice diagrammatic showing of the driving andcontrol mechanism for the reel.

Referring to the drawing in detail, the embodiment of a pay-oif reelconstructed in accordance with the invention comprises an outersubstantially upright basket generally denoted by the reference numeral10 which includes a cylindrical wall 11 preferably formed of sheet metalprovided with an annular top rim 12 in the form of a rail or tubular rodsecured thereto such as by welding and preferably formed of hardenedsteel. The lower end of wall 11 is inwardly turned or flanged andsecured as by welding to a bottom plate 13. The bottom plate 13 isfastened by bolts 14 to a reinforcing plate 15 which is secured to acenter hub 16.

The bolts 14 are formed with enlarged heads as shown which are receivedin apertures formed in the bottom plate 21 of the inner unit generallydenoted by the reference numeral 22. The inner unit 22 comprising atapered or frustoconical drum 23 secured to the bottom plate 21 and hasan annular platform 24 fixed thereto and spaced slightly above thebottom plate 21 so as to clear the heads of the bolts 14. As will bedescribed more fully hereinafter, the bundle or coil of wire denoted at25 to be fed to an associated mechanism is merely placed on the platform24 and the wire is drawn upwardly around the drum 23 and then fedoutwardly over the rail 12. The inner unit 22 is not fastened to thebasket 10 except for the driving connection provided by the heads of thebolts 14 received in the apertures 20 and thus the inner unit 22 can bereadily separated from the basket and removed through the open topthereof.

The sub 16 is splined to a spindle and retained thereon by a retainingnut 31. The spindle 30 extends upwardly into the drum 23 with its upperend received in an aperture 26 in a centering and reinforcing plate 27extending across the interior of the drum. The spindle 30 is journaledin antifriction bearings 32 mounted in a mounting block 33 which ispivotally supported by the trunnions 34, 35 thereon which are journaledin the side plates 36 in the base or frame 37.

The lower end of the spindle 30 has fixed thereto a beveled gear 38meshing with a beveled gear 39 on a drive shaft 40 extending throughantifriction bearings 41 in the trunnion 35. As a result of the locationof the parts just described, the reel can readily pivot on the trunnions34, 35 without interfering with the driving connection between thespindle 30 and drive shaft 40. As shown in" FIG. 2, the reel iscounterbalanced by means of an adjustable weight 42 supported on a rod43 secured to the block 33 so that the basket 10 normally tilts to theleft as viewed in FIG. 2 with the bottom of the block 33 resting againstan adjustable stop 44.

The outer end of the drive shaft 40 is connected to a brake which isutilized when the mechanism is being stopped, and thence is connected bya coupling 51 to a speed-change mechanism shown diagrammatically at 52.The speed-change mechanism 52 is connected by coupling 49 to the drivemotor 53.

Turning now more particularly to the control system showndiagrammatically in FIG. 2, the drive motor 53 is energized by a DC.generator 54 connected thereto by leads 55, 56, the generator beingdriven by an electric motor 57 connected to any convenient source ofelectric power. The field 58 of generator 54 is controlled by a voltageregulator 59 connected thereto by lines 60, 61. The regulator iselectrically connected to a tachometer generator 62 driven by the drivemotor 53 and by lines 63, 64 to a tachometer generator 65 operativelyconnected to the rolling mill or other apparatus indicateddiagrammatically by the rolls 66 to which the wire is being fed. As willbe readily understood, the voltage regulator 59 will energize the field58 and thus control the output of generator 54 in accordance with therelative outputs of the tachometer generators 62 and 6S thus maintainingthe speed of drive motor 53 in predetermined relationship to the speedof the rolling mill 66. A potentiometer 67 in the line 64 permits theoperator to manually vary the effective output of the tachometergenerator 65 and thus adjust the relative speeds of the drive motor 53and rolling mill 66.

It is believed that the operation of the wire pay-off reel will beapparent from the foregoing description of the mechanism together withthe following description. As previously stated, the bundle of wire 25in the usual form and without any especial pretreatment is merely placedon the platform 24 around the tapered drumv 23 and one end of the wireis drawn upwardly along the drum 23 and then fed outwardly over the rail12 to the rolling mill 66 which is located so that the wire will travelin a direction at right angles to the axis of the trunnions 34, 35.. Theweight 42 is adjusted if necessary so that the basket 10 will tiltslightly backwardly away from the direction of wire feed as shown inFIG. 2. The rolling mill 66 is then started in operation which willautomatically cause the drive motor 53 to be energized by means" of thecircuitry described. Initially, during start-up of the mechanism, it ispreferred that the operator set the potentiometer 67 so as to increasethe effective output of the tachometer generator 65 thus increasing thepower output of drive motor 53 to the point that the inertia of thebundle and pay-off reel is overcome and acceleration thereof correspondsto the acceleration of the rolling mill. After operating speed isattained, however, the potentiometer 67 is adjusted so that the wirewill pay off at the desired speed and with the minimum tension desired.

The wire being released over the upper rail 12 is thus drawn upwardlyand inwardly from the bundle 25 along the tapering drum 23 to cause itto feed from the bundle without tangling or snarling and due to therotation of the basket without any twisting. Because the drum 23 is ofsmaller diameter than although in contiguous relationship withthe bundle25, its'peripheral or linear speed is less than that of'the bundle sothat the wire will. normally be drawn tightly into a helical coil inengagement with the drum insuring that the wire will feed properly fromthe bundle. Some slippage of the wire on the upper end of the drum willoccur because of this difference in speed and for this reason, lubricantmay be applied to the surface of the drum if desired.

While the pay-off reel of the invention will normally feed the wirewithout any tangling or snarling; nonetheless, if such snarling shouldoccur as a result of kinks or for other reasons, no breakage of theapparatus or wire will normally occur because of the tiltable mountingof the basket 10 and the releasable connection between the inner drumunit 22 and the basket. In the event a snarl occurs such that excessivetension on the wire occurs, the basket 10 will merely tilt on thetrunnions 34, and spill out the inner drum unit 22 and bundle 25.

The pay-off reel of the present invention has been found to beparticularly useful for paying out wire at high speeds in the range ashigh as 1,000 feet per minute and operates effectively with bundle loadsas heavy as half a ton. This is accomplished without anypretreatrnent ofthe wire such as expensive rewinding, and the apparatus operateselfectively over long periods of time without undue wear or breakdown.As a result, rolling mill operations and the like are rendered moreeificient and economical.

Although the invention has been described in connection with a specificpreferred embodiment, it will be understood that variations andmodifications will be apparent to one skilled in the art and all suchvariations and modifications are intended to be included within thescope of the invention.

I claim:

1. A wire pay-off reel comprising a base, a supporting member mounted onthe base for pivoting movement about a horizontal axis, a spindlerotatably mounted in the supporting member about an axis extendingoutwardly from the axis of pivoting movement, means biasing thesupporting member to a pivoted position with the spindle extending in anupward direction, an open-ended basket mounted on the spindle forrotation therewith, an upwardly tapered drum seated coaxially in thebasket having its upper end extending upwardly above the open end of thebasket, a guide rail on the upper edge of the basket, and means fordriving the spindle.

2. A Wire pay-off reel as set forth in claim 1 wherein the meansbiasingthe supporting member is an adjustable weight slidably mounted onthe supporting member.

3. A wire pay-off reel comprising a base, a supporting member mounted onthe base for pivoting movement about a horizontal axis, a rotatablespindle mounted in the supporting member about an axis extendingoutwardly from the axis of pivoting movement, means biasing thesupporting member to a pivoted position with the spindle extending in anupward direction, an open-ended basket mounted on the spindle forrotation therewith, an upwardly tapered drum removably seated in thebasket having its smaller end extending upwardly from the open end ofthe basket and having means at its lower end for supporting a bundle ofwire, means interengaging the drum with the basket for rotationtherewith, and means for driving the spindle.

4. A wire pay-oil reel for paying off wire from a bundle of wire to anassociated apparatus comprising an openended basket, means mounting thebasket for rotation with its axis extending in an upward direction, anupwardly tapered drum having a substantially continuous circumferentialsurface mounted coaxially within the basket for rotation therewithhaving its smaller end extending beyond the open end of the basket, saiddrum defining with the basket an annular chamber for receiving thebundle of wire, a guide rail extending about the open end of the basket,and means for rotating the basket at a speed proportional to that of anassociated apparatus, said drum having its larger end dimensioned forsubstantialengagement with the bundle of wire whereby the wire beingpaid off from the reel is fed from the bundle into a helical coil inengagement with the tapered drum.

5. In combination, a wire treating apparatus, a wire pay-oft reel forpaying off wire to said apparatus from a bundle of wirecomprising anopen-ended basket, means mounting the basket for rotation with its axisextending in an upward direction a tapered drum having a substantiallycontinuous circumferential surface mounted coaxially within the basketfor rotation therewith having its smaller end extending beyond the openend of the basket, a guide rail extending about the open end of thebasket, and driving means for rotating the basket, said reel beingadapted to support a bundle of wire within the basket with the bundleextending about the lower end of the drum and to feed the wire upwardlyaround the drum and then outwardly over the guide rail to the Wiretreating apparatus, said drum having its larger end dimensioned forsubstantial engagement with the bundle of wire whereby the wire beingpaid ofl from the reel is fed from the bundle into a helical coil inengagement with the tapered drum, and means for controlling the speed ofsaid driving means in relationship to the speed of the wire treatingapparatus.

6. In combination, a wire treating apparatus, a wire pay-oif reel forpaying off wire to said apparatus from a bundle of wire comprising anopen-ended basket, means mounting the basket for rotation with its axisextending in an upward direction, a tapered drum having a substantiallycontinuous circumferential surface mounted coaxially within the basketfor rotation therewith having its smaller end extending beyond the upperend of the basket, a guide rail extending about the open end of thebasket, and driving means for rotating the basket including an electricmotor, said reel being adapted to receive a bundle of wire within thebasket with the bundle encircling the lower end of the drum and to feedthe wire upwardly around the drum and then outwardly over the guide railto the wire treating apparatus, said drum having its larger enddimensioned for substantial engagement with the bundle of wire wherebythe wire being paid off from the reel is fed from the bundle into ahelical coil in engagement with the tapered drum, and means forcontrolling the speed of the electric motor to maintain the speed ofrotation of the drum in selected relationship to the speed of the wiretreating apparatus.

7. In combination, a wire treating apparatus, a wire pay-oil reel forpaying ofi" wire to said apparatus from a bundle of wire comprising anopen-ended basket, means mounting the basket for rotation with its axisextending in an upward direction, a tapered drum mounted coaxiallywithin the basket for rotation therewith having its smaller endextending beyond the upper end of the basket, a guide rail extendingabout the open end of the basket, and driving means for rotating thebasket including an electric motor, said reel being adapted to receive abundle of wire within the basket with the bundle encircling the lowerend of the drum and to feed the wire upwardly around the drum and thenoutwardly over the guide rail to the wire treating apparatus, said drumbeing dimensioned for contiguous relationship with the bundle of wirewhereby the wire being paid off from the reel is fed from the bundleinto a helical coil in engagement with the tapered drum, and means forcontrolling the speed of the electric motor to maintain the speed ofrotation of the drum in selected relationship to the speed of the wiretreating apparatus comprising a direct current generator for energizingthe electric motor, a first tachometer generator driven by the electricmotor, a second tachometer gene ator driven by the wire treatingapparatus, and a voltage regulator connected to said tachometergenerators and to the field of said direct current generator forenergizing said field in proportion to the difierence of outputs of saidtachometer generators.

8. In combination, a wire treating apparatus, a wire pay-01f reel forpaying off wire to said apparatus from a bundle of wire comprising anopen-ended basket, means mounting the basket for rotation with its axisextending in an upward direction, a tapered drum mounted coaxiallywithin the basket for rotation therewith having its smaller endextending beyond the upper'end of the basket, a guide rail extendingabout the open end of the basket, and driving means for rotating thebasket in cluding an electric motor, said reel being adapted to receivea bundle of wire within the basket with the bundle encircling the lowerend of the drum and to feed the wire upwardly around the drum and thenoutwardly over the guide rail to the wire treating apparatus, said drumbeing dimensioned for contiguous relationship with the bundle of wirewhereby the wire being paid off from the reel is fed from the bundleinto a helical coil in engagement with the tapered drum, and means forcontrolling the speed of the electric motor to maintain the speed ofrotation of the drum in selected relationship to the speed of the wiretreating apparatus comprising a direct current generator for energizingthe electric motor, a first tachometer generator driven by the electricmotor, a second tachometer generator driven by the wire treatingapparatus, a voltage regulator connected to said tachometer generatorsand to the field of said direct current generator for energizing saidfield in proportion to the difierence of outputs of said tachometergenerators, and manually adjustable means for varying the effectiveoutput of said second tachometer generator.

9. The wire pay-off reel of claim 4 further comprising means providing adriving connection between the basket and drum to ensure common rotationthereof, said means allowing axial separation of the drum from thebasket.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,093,390 Foster Apr. 14, 1914 1,562,997 Van Orman 1 Nov. 24, 19252,685,097 Allen Aug. 3, 1954 2,772,840 Goodhue et al. Dec. 4, 19562,957,643 Bosworth et al Oct. 25, 1960 2,968,451 Schneider Jan. 17, 1961

4. A WIRE PAY-OFF REEL FOR PAYING OFF WIRE FROM A BUNDLE OF WIRE TO ANASSOCIATED APPARATUS COMPRISING AN OPENENDED BASKET, MEANS MOUNTING THEBASKET FOR ROTATION WITH ITS AXIS EXTENDING IN AN UPWARD DIRECTION, ANUPWARDLY TAPERED DRUM HAVING A SUBSTANTIALLY CONTINUOUS CIRCUMFERENTIALSURFACE MOUNTED COAXIALLY WITHIN THE BASKET FOR ROTATION THEREWITHHAVING ITS SMALLER END EXTENDING BEYOND THE OPEN END OF THE BASKET, SAIDDRUM DEFINING WITH THE BASKET AN ANNULAR CHAMBER FOR RECEIVING